greatexpectations | (open) elektra natchios (black sky)

[Elektra looks at him a little sharper. She supposes this would be a touchy subject for him. While she treats everything that happened to her as some sick joke, a man who lost his children would be disgusted another parent went around beating his kids. She can't exactly double back now for her sanity. Humor is the only thing that helps her cope with all of it.] Absolutely though it was a bit muddied on my part since I was that at the time.

[The Black Sky. Another coping mechanism; pretending like none of that is still there. She goes on casually.] Did I do it because I wanted to or did a lifetime of shitty parenting and failed attempts to murder his only daughter finally catch up to him? Impossible to say.

[Instead she's just diving into her food and ignoring the way Leon is trying to get her attention by butting his head against her legs.] I can say this is fantastic.

[She finally reaches out with one of her hands to scratch behind his ears. It actually does help a little. He really is a good boy.]

[ that. the brainwashed doll they'd made her. he nods, trying to get himself in check. they'd both fought their wars and they were over. there's no reason for him to be shaking right now. frank dishes up his own food and sits back down, though he ignores it for now, his appetite suddenly lacking. ]

He got what he deserved. [ so it doesn't matter either way, not to frank. she knew that already. he ducks his head, picking up his fork to try and force a bite past his lips. ] Glad you like it.

[He has a tendency to surprise her from time to time. Now is one of those times. It's funny how no one ever seems to get it. Matthew treated their father's attempts to kill her as some kind of personality flaw. He couldn't possibly mean it. It was just Stick being Stick. No one ever takes her side of anything even after he pulled the same stunt with that idiot manchild they called Iron Fist. She stares at him in open surprise even knowing it makes sense. If anyone would get what a monster that man was to the children he supposedly saved it would be Frank Castle. If anyone would hate him for abusing his shot at fatherhood, it would be Frank. It occurs to her belatedly how horrifying this must sound to him having a daughter of his own once upon a time.]

I know, but it's still nice to hear. [She hates how vulnerable she must look even with that pasted on smile. She really needs to learn not to be so flippant with him. He hears what she actually means when she says it.] Tell me about Jessica. Or anything.

[ he tilts his head. he doesn't get how anyone would have a different opinion, but that's to be expected too. frank can tell she doesn't want to talk about it anymore and he lets go, though it isn't an easy task for him. jessica. is he that transparent? just hearing her name does something to him. he was trying to be careful too, but as usual elektra saw through him; and maybe that's really for the best. he figures he'll just... start at the beginning, since she called his bluff. ]

I bought her coffee. She forgot her wallet. [ it really is like the start of a bad romcom. he chews on his lip, forgetting to eat as he remembers that day in november. it feels like yesterday and years ago all at once. ] I told her my name was Pete and she said she was Jess. We just... did that for a while. Got coffee, talked. Or didn't. We didn't more, I think. She asked me how I slept.

[ so many things are a jumble, though he remembers them perfectly. frank sets his fork down before he can drop it grips the edge of the table instead. ] We started... following each other. Keeping tabs. I found out what she could do... Then she found out who I was. I don't really know-- [ he has to stop here. it's weird. a strange look comes over his face. ]

With Maria I knew. I knew we were gonna be together, forever, the moment I saw her. [ but that's not what happened, so maybe he just can't trust his serendipity meter anymore. frank shakes his head. he hates comparing her to jessica, but sometimes it's unavoidable. ]

But someone got to her. Jess. She's all scrambled up inside. Maybe you're right, about being with someone as screwed up as you are. [ wow he didn't mean to ramble that much. and he feels like he got exactly nowhere with this story. sorry, bro. ]

[Elektra does what she's best at as she listens: eats. It does effectively take her mind off Stick which is what she wanted. She's not really in the mood for a smile faked or otherwise, but the story does put her in a better mood. It sounds promising for Frank. While she may be barely a person, she still wants what's best for him. What's best for anyone is to avoid being alone at all costs. She stops stuffing her face long enough to point out the obvious.]

I'm always right. You should know that by now. [Just a friendly reminder. She leans back to swallow and offer up something in response to all that. He's given her a little of pieces here. She winces a little as she runs through the one on Jess. It's hard not to pity that given what happened to her.]

That's good, you know. You need scrambled even if it isn't pretty to look at. [No sane women would ever want him. Why not embrace that?]

[ he snorts. elektra definitely isn't always right, but it's not like he can dispute her when she's dropping truth so it's easy to stay quiet. ]

I think she's pretty. [ it's juvenile, but he doesn't just mean her outsides. he's gotten enough of a glimpse of what's inside to like that too. ] It is good. I think. I dunno if she would agree, but. [ it's a start. he shrugs one shoulder, encouraged by how enthusiastically elektra is eating his food. ]

[That wins a true laugh from her. He sounds like a little boy talking about his crush. She immediately appeases him by agreeing.] I'm sure she's very pretty.

[In more than one way. It's hard to judge properly on the outside given when and why of their encounters. She's sure he's right though. Satisfied she's done her work as a friend, Elektra goes back to eating all the food. This dish is pretty good.]

Do you feed her like this? That might go a long way in your favor.

[ frank smiles for her assurances though he knows it only makes him seem like more of the 13yo boy he's emulating. oh well, it's hard to care when he's in the midst of something he enjoys this much. ]

...Nah. I try, but I haven't gotten there yet. [ and when he says he tries, he all but begs her to eat sometimes. no dice, not yet. ]

[She smiles back. Hearing that doesn't surprise her much given how difficult Matthew was. Good things never come easy, she supposes.] It took me a month to get Matthew to try new things at the beginning. He would steal food from my fancy parties, but Heaven forbid I buy him a nice dinner. Finally we agreed on "fancy bread and cheeses" from the deli as a good dinner option.

[She stops eating long enough to put up air quotes.]

[ frank snorts at elektra's description, thinking jess and matt are about the same on this front. except jessica's refusal to eat involves a lot more whiskey. ] She definitely won't let me buy her anything. The coffee was the first and last time I tried that shit.

[She shakes her head in amusement. The other woman is really missing out here as a lover of Frank Castle's food.] Modern woman or doesn't like charity? Combination? Matthew naturally had too much pride in my case.

Hm... neither. [ he shrugs. jess is just... jess about things. ] She's suspicious of anything good. [ which is not necessarily him, so maybe that's why they've done okay so far. at least, with their combined and incredibly low standards. ]

[She makes a show of thinking about it before approving with a nod.] Wise considering the way our lives have turned out.

[Good things generally don't last for them.] Speaking from experience your food is a really good thing.

[It's why she's going to help herself to seconds.]

Thanks. [ it's dull and ironically parallel with him pushing his own plate away. he isn't hungry anymore but as ever she's more than welcome to his portion. ] At least I have you to cook for. [ he knows it helps both of them in some inexplicable way. ]

[She doesn't even hesitate to pull his plate over to her side of the table. It does help even if she's about as sure as he is as to why. All Elektra knows for certain is that she's happier with Frank in her life. She doesn't want things to ever change between them.]

You can always rely on me for that- [She points at him before moving to bite into her food.] and helping with less fun problems.

[ he offers up a wan sort of smile at that. ] Still fresh out of those. You? [ just a confirmation that they're both still boring ex-murderers!! ]

I've successfully resisted the urge to kill Danny Rand and my actual enemies are still dead... [So she's boring too.]

Good. [ a smile. ] Just checking.

Are we sober buddies or would you just be mad I didn't invite you along for that? I know no one is that invested in keeping that moron alive.

[They can have a useful Iron Fist if he were dead. Just pointing that out.]

[ he snorts. sober buddies. he supposes it is a little like that, though he'd never though of himself as an addict. it fits in a way, his life always seeming lacking without some source of anger or confrontation. ] Can't it be both?

[She chuckles softly.] It can be both. You should know if I have time to think it over, I will be happy to include you in whatever incident I get mixed up in.

(open) elektra natchios (black sky)

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